Americans fear public speaking more than earthquakes, flying, clowns, zombies, and even death. But if you own a small business, sooner or later, you’ll have to get up and speak in front of others. It doesn’t have to be a major address in front of 4000 people to be intimidating. When I first started in …
7 Steps for Achieving Your Goals
If you’re like me, you have a small business to-do list that goes on and on: customers to call, contacts to contact, products or services to get out the door, and a million other things. Phew. It’s overwhelming just to look at it. In day-to-day small business life, it’s natural to focus on tasks—pay the …
A Trick, a Treat for Small Business
Halloween is big business for small business. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend $6.9 million on costumes, decorations, candy, greeting cards, and party favors. More than 157 million will participate in Halloween festivities. Twenty million Americans will even spend $350 million on pet costumes. I have to admit that I’m one of …
Independent Contractor? Not so Fast!
Your small business is booming. You need to hire help. But should your new hire be an employee or an independent contractor? Or… you’re self-employed, providing services to ride-hailing companies like Uber or Lyft. Are you an employee, covered by labor laws and your costs reimbursed—or should you be considered an independent contractor? As more …
7 Tips To Succeed In The Gig Economy
Today’s new self-employed, ‘small business’ owner: You rent your spare room on Airbnb while you dog-sit two puppies through Rover, and cook dinner for strangers who found you on EatWith. You drive someone to the airport through Uber, and on the way back, you stop and put an IKEA desk together for someone who found you …
9 Surprises About Running A Business
You love owning your small business—being your own boss. Perhaps you’re dreaming of starting a business one day. To help you reach your goals, you read everything you can about how to run a business (including this column!). You take small business management classes. But some lessons you can’t learn until you’re actually at the …
Home Business – Dream or Nightmare?
Is running a small business from your home a long-time dream? Or is combining your work with personal life your worst nightmare? For 14 years, I enjoyed running my consulting business from home. I could get up, go straight to work, wear what I wanted, and loved my “one-room commute.” When my business outgrew my …
Get Ready for Summer
This week, there may be snow in Colorado and flooding in Texas, but hot or cold, wet or dry, now that Memorial Day is behind us, the summer season is officially here. For many small businesses and entrepreneurs, summer is the busiest time of the year—especially if you’re in the tourism, sports, or construction industries. …
Can You Make It as a Maker?
Do you tinker, craft, invent, design? Would you like to make money from your creations? Perhaps start a business—whether a small business or giant enterprise? Then, you may be part of the growing breed known as “makers.” America seems to have become a nation of consumers—with far too few creators. We import too much; make …
